Or, that you can less science show Or, why should man his spirits vex, Every little accomplishment is equally a source of envious detraction; but not alone to the bodily requisites do these meannesses extend; virtue itself is not proof against calumny; for so rancorous is her tooth, that, as Livy says, Coca invidia est; nec quidquam aliud scit, quam detractare virtutes. † I have alluded above to the folly of females, in regard to envy: not that I can discriminate the difference of a shade between them and the male part of the crea tion, which is equally enslaved by this degrading folly: for, let a man be extolled in a society of males for any superior endowments, whether mental or corporeal, and you will never fail to hear the hue and cry raised against him for numberless faults, to counterbalance the eulo gium, whether they belong to him or not. The injured man, however, has always this consolation, that, notwithstanding the tale may be credited by the multitude of fools, the wise man will always discern the truth, and see clearly through the flimsy veil, which malicious spi Why feed on mean and envious thought, Rather let such the model be A sure reward thou'lt find. L'ENVOY OF THE POET. Be wise, O fool! and, if thou wouldst find rest, Forth from thy mind each envious thought dispel : For he that hugs this demon to his breast, Is curs'd thro' life with an eternal hell*. rits, conscious of their own inferiority, purposely weave, Invidia Siculi non invenere tyranni; THE POET'S CHORUS TO FOOLS. Come, trim the boat, row on each Rara Avis, Crowds flock to man my Stultifera Navis. SECTION LIV. OF FOOLS WHO BELIEVE IN PREDES TINATION. Che sara sara. Make fools believe in their foreseeing In soul and body, and instill All future good and future ill. THIS fool, who shows bells, cap, and ladle, Vows that, ere yet a babe in cradle, His destiny, by fate, was told, How he should wear both clout and frock; "Twas equally a point momentous, And a forewarning, most portentous, For playing truant, jest in church; Or, when in school, neglecting book, Or, running scores with pastry cook, In youth, 'twas no less necessary That he, in age, should need no lasses; This species of foolish foreknowledge brings to mind these lines of Butler: Some towns and cities, some, for brevity, Have cast the 'versal world's nativity; Like stars on children, what they please. |